Joint for leg braces



Lo. IWITTE 2,410,560

JOINT FOR LEG BRAcES Nov. 5, 1946.

Filed Nov. 29, 1944 Patented Nov. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOINT FOR LEG-BRACES' Isadore 0. Witte, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 29, 1944, Serial No'. 565,641

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in orthopedic appliances, and more particularly to a brace or support for a fractured or deformed limb.

This invention consists in the matters hereinafterset forth, and mor particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure I is a fragmentary perspective view embodying features of the invention. Figure 2 is a side elevational view. Figure 3 is a front elevational View. Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Figure 5 is a sectionrtaken on the line-5*5 of Fig. 2. Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 65 of Fig. 4. Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a modified form of theinvention. Figure 8 is a front elevational. View of Fig. 7.. Figure 9 is a perspective View of a further modified formof a foot support.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I indicates abracawhich in this'instance is for the left leg. The brace l comprises thigh portions 2 and 3, leg portions 4 and 5 and a foot portion 6.

The lower ends of the thigh portions 2' and 3 are offset as at 1 andv 8 respectively. The. upper end ofthe leg portion 4 is ofiset'as at 9. Time offset ends I and 9 are connected together by a joint Ill. The upper-end ll" of the portion 5 and the offset ends. are connected by a joint I12, the joints l: and I2 being similar in construction, and together form a knee joint.

The brace I in the present instance is formed of plastic material. A washer IP3' of plastic material is arranged between the portions 1 and 9; A metal pivot pin 14 is mounted in the washer l3 and the portions 7 and 9. A pair of metal washers. l are arranged on each end of the pin M in abutment with the outer face of theends l and 9. The ends of the pin l4 are peened over as shown at lifito' forma head. A plastic stop member I! is fixed to the outer face of the portion 1 in any suitable manner. A plastic stop member" I8 is fixed in any suitable manner to the inner face of the portion 9.

The stop member l8 and the stop member I1 are provided with aligned recesses l9 and 20 respectively adapted to receive the washers I5 and the heads It. The recesses I 9 and 20 are then filled with sealing material 2 I. The stop member I8 is provided at one end with an angular projection 22 and at the other end with a hook formation 23.

The portion 1 is substantially wider at one side 24 than the stop member [8 and is provided with radial openings 25.

A pin 26 is provided with a threaded recessed stem 21 adapted to be inserted in one of theopen- 'ings- 25. A nut- 28 is threaded on the stem 21 whereby to lock the pin 26 to the portion 24 as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The head 29- of the stop member 26 is adapted to engage the groove 30 of the hook member 23 whereby to limit backward movement of the thigh portions 2 and 3. The stopmember IT is provided with a forward tongue 3! adapted to engage the projection 22 whereby to limit forward movement of the portion 2.

A pin 32 is adapted to be inserted into aligned openings 33, 34,35, 36 and 31 of the stop member il, portion '1, washer r31 portion 9 and the stop member [8 respectively whereby to lock the portions 2 and 4- against movement.

The joint I 2 providesa similar arrangement for the portions 3 and 5 as above described for the joint l0.

With this arrangement knee action of the wearer is adjustably limited in one direction, limited in the other direction and may be locked against either direction. The portions 2 and 3 are provided with aligned slots 38 adapted to receive straps 39. The portions 4 and 5 are provided with aligned slots-4o adapted toreceive similar straps (not shown). The upper end of the portion- 3 is provided with a slot 4| adapted to receive one end 42 of a strap 43 attached to a belt 44'. The belt 44 is provided with a buckle 45. The end 42 is attached to the upper portion of the strap 43 by means of a buckle 46.

The leg portions 4 and 5 are provided at their lower ends with offset portions 41 and 48 respectively, which are pivotally connected to the upper ends49and= Etioftheside: wa'11s5ll and 50* formed onthe foot portion 6, by means of a pin 5|. Stop members 52 are attached to the outer faces of the portions 41 and 48. Stop members 53 are attached to the inner faces of'the portions 49 and 50. Washers 54- are arranged between the portions 41'', 49 ar'id 48, 50.

Connection. between the top member '53 and the stop member 52 is similar to that described for the joints I0 and [2, the tongue 55 and the projection 56 being rearward instead of forward. The side walls 50 and 50 are elongated and are provided at their forward ends 5'! with aligned slots 58 adapted to receive an attaching strap (not shown), The foot portion 6 is provided with a back wall 59 having an ankle receiving portion 60. The rear end of the side wall 50 is provided with a slot 6| adapted to receive a tongue 62 formed on a foot rest 63. The foot rest 63 is of inverted U shape, the side walls 64 being arranged 3 adjacent the inner faces of the walls 56 and 50 The top wall 65 is shaped to the contour of the bottom of a foot.

The foot portion 6 is flexible, the walls 50 and 50 being adapted to be spread apart to permit insertion of the tongue 62 in the slot 6| whereby to hold the foot rest 63 in place.

In Figs. 7 and 8 is shown a modified form of the invention wherein the leg portion is formed of one piece 66, having a curved upper wall 61 and depending forwardly extending side walls 68 which are offset outwardly as at 69. Strap receiving tongues 10 are attached in any suitable manner to the outer faces of the wall 68. Strap receiving slots H are formed in the forward ends of the portion 61. The leg portion 65 is pivotally connected to a foot portion 12 by means of a pin [3, the stop member 14 and stop 15 arrangement being similar to the stop member 52 and stop 53. A heel stop 16 is attached to an elongated bottom wall H of the foot portion 12. In Fig. '7 the forward end of a heel 78 of a shoe I9 is shown in abutment with the stop 16. Arranged in the bottom wall I! are aligned openings 8| through which screws 80 are adapted to be screwed into the heel 18.

In Fig. 9 is shown a support for the foot in the form of a stirrup 82.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, including in combination, inner and outer limb sections pivotally connected together, a stop member mounted on each of said sections, a transverse projection formed on the inner stop member, a lateral projection formed on the outer stop member adapted to engage said transverse projection whereby to limit movement of said limbs in one direction, and means for adjustably locking said limb members against movement in the other direction.

2. In a device of the class described, including in combination, a pair of limb sections, one section having one end arranged in overlapping relation with one end of the other section, pivotal means for said ends, a stop member fixed to each of said ends, a transverse projection formed on one of said stop members, a lateral projection formed on the other of said stop members adapted to engage said transverse projection whereby to limit pivotal movement in one direction, and means forming engagement between one of said limb sections and said first named stop member whereby to adjustably limit pivotal movement in the other direction.-

3. In a device of the class described, including in combination, a pair of limb sections, one section having one end arranged in overlapping relation with one end of the other section, pivotal means for said sections, a stop member fixed to each of said sections, a transverse projection formed on one of said stop members, a lateral projection formed on the other of said stop meme 7 bers adapted to engage said transverse projection whereby to limit pivotal movement in one direction, one of said ends having holes radially spaced circumferentially with respect to said pivotal means, and a pin having one end removably mounted in one of said holes, the stop member in the other of said ends having a groove adapted to receive the other end of said pin whereby to limit movement in the other direction.

4. In a device of the class described, including in combination, a pair of limb sections, one section having one end arranged in overlapping relation with one end of the other section, pivotal means for said ends, a stop member fixed to each of said ends, a transverse projection formed on one-of said stop members, and a lateral projection formed on the other of said stop members adapted to engage said transverse projection whereby to limit pivotal movement in one direction.

5. In a device of the class described, including in combination, a pair of limb sections, one section having one end arranged in overlapping relation with one end of the other section, pivotal means for said ends, a stop member fixed to each of said ends, a transverse projection formed on one of said stop members, a lateral projection formed on the other of said stop members adapted to engage said transverse projection whereby to limit pivotal movement in one direction, and means for locking said limb sections against movement.

6. In a device of the class described, including in combination, a pair of limb sections, one section having one end arranged in overlapping relation with one end of the other section, a pivot pin forming connection between said ends, a washer mounted on said pin between said ends, a stop member fixed to each of said ends and each having a recess formed therein adapted'to receive the ends of said pin whereby to completely enclose said pivot pin, means formed on said members for limiting movement in one direction, and means forming engagement between one of said stop members and one of said ends for adjustably limiting movement in the other direction.

7.,In a device of the class described, including in combination, a pair of limb sections, one section having one end arranged in overlapping relation with one end of the other section, a pivot pin forming connection between both ends, a washermounted on said pin between said ends, a stop member fixed to each of said ends, a transverse projection formed on one of said stop members, a lateral projection formed on the other of said stop members adapted to engage said transverse projection whereby to limit pivotal movement in one direction, and means forming engagement between one of said limb sections and said first named stop member whereby to adjustably limit pivotal movement in the other direction.

ISADOREO. VVITTE. 

